andre nickatina

Oh yeah - I'm fairly positive that Alien = Kazane. If you look at the pics of the two side by side, they are almost the same - "Super End" style fork dropouts, the blunted end of the seat stay where it meets top of seat tube, and the distinct rear track ends. Also, same tubing.

jussik

Didn't Stratton from Keirin Culture say somewhere here that the Kazane is made by the only factory in Taiwan who makes lugged frames? It would then make sense if both Alien and Kazane were made by same people at the same place and with same fork ends, same steel and so on.

But is the geo really the same in both frames? I somehow got the idea that Alien claims to be more 'tight and aggressive' but Kazane is not making such claims? Also, the Kazane geo graph/table is nowhere to seen, or is it?

andre nickatina

https://s130.photobucket.com/albums/p...azanegeometry/ looks to be a little different, check it yourself though as I'm tired and about to sleep.

https://s130.photobucket.com/albums/p.../kazaneimages/ for pictures. Track ends and top of seat stays are identical.

If they're not the same frame, they're for sure made in the same factory in Taiwan. I'm leaning towards the latter - I'd say same factory, same builders, possibly slighter different geo/measurements.

shredsled87

I'm pretty sure they are the same. Here is a picture of the two forks. Kazane on the left, and Alien on the right.

jussik

Ok, I was just briefly looking at the 54cm Kazane geo pic (link above) and the numbers for a 55cm Alien geo (here), and it seem that the frames are almost the same but there are some very very minor differencies. Also Alien gives the numbers less accurately.

So, basically the only real difference between the two is the price, and the paint options.

andre nickatina

Not mine, saw it on Velospace.

After seeing those clearances, I'm sold. I want to build one of these into a classic aesthetics style track bike, something real clean with box rims and see how light I can get it without sacrificing durability on any of the parts.

peabodypride

that is winner of first powdercoated alien ever!

reedreeder

man that looks good. also, why would seeing clearances make you want to buy a bike? it just seems slightly less convenient.

zzoundss

Alien's lugs are a lot longer and narrow while the Kazane are shorter and fatter.

andre nickatina

It's inconvenient as hell. I've just always wanted to have a really tight track bike, it's a classic aesthetic thing. Restricts the fender options but oh well, I'm going to be getting a steel road bike for that eventually too. Also, I miss my Anchor and I like the way traditional diameter steel bikes ride (as oppposed to modern oversized TIG'd, which also rides nice but most people can probably feel the difference) and want to build something like my Anchor but cheaper for commuting/track training/alleycats...

Yeah and the Kazane's indeed have different lugs, but the two bikes are obviously made in the same factory, probably by the same hands.

colintdesign

That rear wheel looks like it's touching the seat tube, but then I noticed they have the wheel all the way forward in the dropouts with a taught chain—bad idea and leaves no room for adjustment. The dropouts look pretty long, so you should be able to pull back enough to fit fenders or wider tires. Frame looks real nice.

andre nickatina

Chain doesn't look that tight, but it's hard to tell from a non-driveside photo. I have my wheel about that close to the seat tube on my KHS track right now for street ratio (53x19) so that I can flip it around and run as low as a 53x15 for track training (read: not racing), I could probably even do a 53x14 but that would be one monster ratio. Just have to push the axle a few mm back to derail the chain, not too hard once you get the hang of it.

If I could figure out how to take a damn picture with my laptop webcam I'd post it... meh.

alienbikes

The lugs are from Long-Shen. For example the fork crown is available from many places like:

https://www.framebuilding.com/NEWPART...k%20Crowns.htm

The track ends:

https://www.framebuilding.com/Frame%20Ends%203.htm

So similarities there do not mean the frames are the same. As others have noted, the lugs are different, and the geometry. In particular the fork rake is quite different, making for quite different handling.

I have no idea where the Kazane is made, but I do know they are not the same frames. Aliens are made to my spec, and reflect my ideas of how a track frame should be, and the Kazane is made to the specs of the good folks at Keirin Culture. Variation is the spice of life!

Joseph (Alien)

andre nickatina

Thanks for clearing that up Joseph, but we kind of already figured that out from looking more closely... either way, seems like there'd be a good chance that they're both made in the same factory atleast. Definite possibility.

By the way I'm stoked to get an Alien when I eventually have a job/the money.